Welter says transgender state employees now have equal health care coverage. The policy change came about through the settlement of a case involving Governor O'Malley's executive order in 2007 which prohibited discrimination on the basis of gender identity.

As an example, he introduces a state employee, 31-year-old research assistant at the University of Maryland Medical School is a transgender man who underwent a medically necessary surgical procedure as part of the transition. The reimbursement claim for the procedure was denied, leading the research assistant to FreeState Legal.

He is now being reimbursed for his out of pocket expenses as any state employee would for medically necessary care. The policy change includes gender reassignment surgery, hormone therapy, and any other kind of transition-related aid.